This figure shows the development in unit price on a monthly basis of plastic, paper and glass waste from January 2000 to December 2011. The prices are calculated as weighted averages of a number of sub waste fractions for export both within and out of the EU.

Humanity’s growing appetite for bigger houses, overseas travel, food and consumer goods is the main cause of our most pressing environmental problems, according to a new report from the European Environment Agency (EEA) which considers the links between the environment and consumption.

The figure illustrates the amount of transboundary shipped notified waste, in Million tonnes, traded from EU-member states to different countries. These cover countries within EU-15, EFTA, Non-OECD (inkl. BG and RO), EU-12 excl. BG + RO and OECD (non-EFTA).

Generation and recycling of packaging waste in the member countries of the European Environment Agency. The data show that 17 countries in 2009 met the 2009 target of the Packaging Waste Directive (2004/12/EC) to recycle at least 55% of packaging waste generated, and two countries missed the 2001 target to recycle at least 25%.